08/02/2015VATICANFor pope, Jesus urges us to look for the "bread of life", which expresses His loveDuring the Angelus, Francis commented the Gospel of John. The crowds that followed Jesus for material bread did not understand their own "spiritual blindness". Christ "is gift and the one who gives it.” In light of the encounter with Him, the sufferings of human life “will be illuminated." Remembering the Pardon of Assisi, the “Father forgives everyone,” he “always forgives everything”.Vatican City (AsiaNews) - The crowds that followed Jesus for material bread, the fruit of multiplication, "did not understand their own spiritual blindness. Christ urges us to go beyond our own material needs and open up to a...

07/26/2015 VATICAN-SYRIAPope: urgent appeal for the release of Fr. Dall'Oglio, kidnapped two years ago in SyriaAt the Angelus, Pope Francis recalls the Jesuit priest, the two Orthodox bishops and all those who have been kidnapped, calling on all present to join him in the recitation of a Hail Mary. Joined by the presence of two young people, he opens registration for WYD in Krakow and registers himself as teh first pilgrim online with a tablet. Commenting on today's Gospel: "Who among us does not have his" five loaves and two fish "? If we are willing to put them in the hands of the Lord, they will be a bit more love in the world to go around".

07/24/2015CHINAWenzhou: 90-year-old bishop and 26 priests protest against cross demolitionsby Joseph YuanThis is not the first time that the old bishop and his priests speak out against the demolition campaign against crosses and churches, which has touched more than 400 buildings. During the protest, police tried to disperse the group, which sought to submit a petition. The faithful recite a Crown of the Divine Mercy is in support of the Chinese Church. In Lishui, churches are expected to be torn down by 31 August.

07/24/2015VATICAN - GREAT BRITAINFor the pope, euthanasia is what “mafiosi do. There is a problem: we get rid of this guy . . .”In his message to the Catholic Church in England and Wales for this year’s Day for Life, centred on the theme of ‘Cherishing Life and Accepting Death,’ Pope Francis said that “There is nothing progressive about solving problems by eliminating a human life." For him, “considering having a baby as a right is not a scientific achievement when the child should instead be welcomed as a gift; nor is it right to use humans as laboratory rats in order to save ostensibly others.”

07/23/2015ISRAEL - IRANAfter nuclear deal, Israel ought to become Iran’s best ally by Uri AvneryThis is the thesis of Uri Avnery, leader of Gush Shalom, a major supporter of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. According to the great statesman and peace activist, Iran only wants to be a regional power in the Islamic world, able to trade with everyone, inspired by a sophisticated experience that goes back thousands of years. Iran, which faces backward-looking Gulf monarchies and emirates, could be a great ally against Daesh. Meanwhile in Israel Netanyahu, politicians and the media continue to blunder.

07/22/2015INDONESIA – ISLAMPossible attacks on churches trigger high security alert in Indonesiaby Mathias HariyadiThis follows the burning of two Protestant churches in Central Java, ostensibly sparked by an arson attack against a mosque in Papua during celebrations marking the end of Ramadan. Mainstream and social media have failed to report that a 15-year-old Christian boy was killed by police in the latter incident. The government urges people not to give in to provocations.

07/21/2015INDONESIATwo Protestant churches torched, possibly in retaliation for a mosque burning in Papuaby Mathias HariyadiA church in Purworejo and a prayer house in Bantul (Yogyakarta), central Java, are attacked in incidents connected to an arson attack against a small mosque in Papua that killed one person and wounded 12 others. For an Indonesian priest, a "thorough investigation" is needed to find the culprits and defuse sectarian tensions.

07/20/2015INDONESIA – ISLAMJakarta governor defends the right of Ahmadis to freedom of worshipby Mathias HariyadiA Christian of Sino-Indonesian heritage, Ahok slammed recent attacks against the minority in the capital. On 10 July, Islamic extremist groups disrupted a prayer service in a place of worship they were able to shut down. For the governor, the principle of religious freedom applies to everyone. Indonesia "was not born under the tyranny" of the majority, "but based on the Constitution”.

07/17/2015VATICANVatican calls for an end to violence, corruption and pollution in miningOrganised by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, the conference ‘United with God - listen to the cry’ brought together representatives of communities affected by mining activities from Africa, Asia and America. “Investors, business people, as well as political and government leaders in countries with mines and the headquarters of multinational mining companies are responsible” for this.

07/16/2015VATICANVatican budget still in the red with a € 25.6 million deficit for 2014The Governorate of the Vatican City State, which is responsible for museums, the Vatican post office, commercial enterprises, etc., had instead a good year with a surplus of € 63.5 million. Net assets rose by € 939 million as a result of adjustments to count all the assets and liabilities for the 2014 fiscal year.

CHINAWenzhou: 90-year-old bishop and 26 priests protest against cross demolitionsby Joseph YuanThis is not the first time that the old bishop and his priests speak out against the demolition campaign against crosses and churches, which has touched more than 400 buildings. During the protest, police tried to disperse the group, which sought to submit a petition. The faithful recite a Crown of the Divine Mercy is in support of the Chinese Church. In Lishui, churches are expected to be torn down by 31 August.

ISRAEL - IRANAfter nuclear deal, Israel ought to become Iran’s best ally by Uri AvneryThis is the thesis of Uri Avnery, leader of Gush Shalom, a major supporter of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. According to the great statesman and peace activist, Iran only wants to be a regional power in the Islamic world, able to trade with everyone, inspired by a sophisticated experience that goes back thousands of years. Iran, which faces backward-looking Gulf monarchies and emirates, could be a great ally against Daesh. Meanwhile in Israel Netanyahu, politicians and the media continue to blunder.